Label handling apparatus



NOV. 16, 1943. 5 E VAN TUYL 2,334,458

vLABEL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Deo. 29, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 16, 1943. s, E. VAN TUYL.

LABEL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed DGO. 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 f fl Nov. 16, 1943. s.l E. VAN TUYL 2,334,458

LABEL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1941 3 sheets-sheet s Trae/yz j Patented Nov. 16, 1943 LABEL HANDLING APPARATUS Sidney E. Van Tuyl, Riverside, Ill., assignor to American Tag Company, Chicago,

ration ot Illinois Ill., a corpo- Appucstion'necember 29, 1941, serial'No. 424,751

(CL 21e-cs) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to label handling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for feeding gummed tags or labels in strip form and securing them successively to a receiving surface.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a label handling apparatus which is simple and inexpensive in construction and easy and quick to operate. l

Another object of the invention is` to provide a label handling apparatus in the form of a portable hand tool for applying labels to merchandise in any position or location.

Still another object of the invention is to pro';

y Figure 1 is a perspective view of a label handling apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, with the apparatus opened up in a position to receive a roll or strip of labels;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the upper guide plate;

Figure 4 is an enlarged central section;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 8-6 of Figure 4;`and

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are side views illustrating a manner of using the device.

The apparatus shown is formed by a hollow The hollow projection is adapted to receive a sponge holder I6, open at one end as at I1. to be illled with water, and having a slot in its opposite 'end through which the strip of sponge I8 may project. The sponge holder is secured to a top guide plate I9, adapted to close the open top of the projection I I, and secured thereto -by means of ears 2| hooking over a flange 22 at one end of the projection. When the sponge holder is in place, the top plate I8 forms a guide plate to receive and guide a strip oi.' labels 23, as shown in Figure 4.

The body portion Il) is adapted pivotally to support a body part formed by upstanding parallel sides 24, having top flanges meeting on top of the body part arid closed at the bottom by a spring guide plate 26, as shown in detail in Figure 3. The guide plate is turned up at one end, as shown at 2l, and is adapted to be bolted to the anges 25 by bolts 28, shown in Figure 4. At its forward end, the guide plate 26 has a, pair of turned up ears28 to fit over a cross rod 3| I extending between the side plates 24. 'I'he spring body made up of sheet metal or the like, and

having a cylindrical body portion I0 to receive a roll of gummed labels and to which is permanently connected a hollow elongated projection II which --is open at its upper surface. One side of the cylindrical body portion I8 is closed by a plate I2 having an extension extending along the projecting portion Il, and the opposite side of the cylindrical portion I8 is` closed by a hinged cover I3, which may be opened as shown in Figure 2 for filling the device with labels.,

-The projection II has on its lower surface a finger grip I4 adjustably connected thereto by a screw I5, as shown in Figure 4, so that it can be shifted lengthwise of the projection. By this means, the finger grip can be adjusted comfortably to accommodate hands of diierent sizes.

plate 26 is formed between its ends with an elonp gated slot 32 and adjacent its forward end with a pair of openings 33 and is biased toward the guiding surface I8, for a purpose to appear later. The casing part, as just described, is hinged to the body portion I0 by means of a pin 34 extending between the ears on the body portion and through elongated slots 35 in the sides 24. A spring strip 36, as best seenin Figure 6, presses against the pin 34 and against a downturned flange 31 formed on the ends of the top parts 25 to hold the sides 24 normally forward with respect to the pivot pin 34. The side plates are formed with notches 38 therein to receive projections 39 on the side of the projecting body portion II. The notches and projections are shaped as shown so that when the hinged body part is forced rearwardly against the action of thespring 3S, the notches 38 will t over the projections. When, thereafter, the body part is released so that the spring 36 will urge it forward, the notches and projections will interlock to hold the body in its closed assembled position, as shown in Figure 1.

The sides 24 of the hinged body part are formed with aligned slots 4I receiving supporting pins or fingers 42 on a slide 43. as shown isin the form of a plate or strip slidable above and parallel toV the guide plate 26.

A spring `44 secured at one end to the slide43 and at its opposite end to a fixed bracket, which The slidevl they will be advanced to the left between the.

guide surfaces, and so thatthe feed finger will slide over the labels when it is moved to the right. As shown, particularly in Figure 6, the labels are formed with openings between them extending at least partially across the width of the strip and the feed finger is so constructed as to drop into these openings positively to feed the labels from the edge of the openings. If desired, tags or labels having openings in the body portion thereof, as more particularly described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serlal'No. 408,771, filed August 29, 1941,

l might be employed.

The slide is adapted to be actuated by an actuator, shown as including a plate 4'6 slidable on the slide 43 and held thereon by a shoulder pin 41 connected to the slide and projecting through a slot in the plate 46. A coil spring 48 connected to the pin 41 and to a flange at one end -of the plate 46 urges the plate to the right on the slide, as shown in Figure 4. The plate 46 carries and has projecting therefrom a flexible spring plate or finger 49 terminating in an upturned portion 5I on its outer end. A presser pad o f rubber or the like 52 is secured to the portion 5I and forms therewith a presser for sealing the labels against a receiving surface, as will be described hereinafter.` The spring finger 49 carries a thumb pad 53 to receive the thumb of an operator.

The actuator is guided by means of a cross pin 54 secured to the spring finger 49 closely adjacent the thumb pad 53 and movable in elongated slots in the side members 24. rIhe slots as shown include an upper portion `55 parallel to the guide plate 26 and a lower portion 56 also parallel to the guide plate 26. The portions 55 and 5.6 are connected by a vertical part 51 within which the pin 54 may move toward the guide plate 26.

After a complete feeding operation, the labels are adapted to be held between the guide surfaces against further movement bya gripper pad 58 carried by a spring finger 59, which is secured at one end to the slide 43. When the slide has been moved to its furthest possible forward position, in which it has completed afeeding operation, the gripper 58 vwill overlie the openings 33 in the guide plate 26, and the guide pin 54 will lie in register with the vertical slot portion 51. At this time, the thumb piece 53 is depressed to engage the upper surface of the spring nger 59 and presses the resilient gripper pad 58 through the openings 33 into engagement with the label strip to hold the strip against further movement between the guide surfaces. Preferably, the guide surface I9 is knurled or roughened below the openings 33 to grip the label strip more securely. It will be noted that with the parts in this position, a further forward movement of the actuator mechanism without causing any further movement of the slide is possible, the pin 41 moving in the slot in plate'46 and the guide pin 54 travelling through the forward slot portion 56.

Operation of the apparatus is illustrated more particularly in Figures 7, 8 and 9. As shown in Figure 7, the actuating mechanism and the slide are in the withdrawn position, being moved to the rightrunder the influence of springs 44 and 48. With the apparatus in this position, the operator may grasp the projecting portion II with the nger piece I4 lying between the index and second fingers, and with his thumb resting 0n the thumb piece 53. With the parts in this position, the operator may press his thumb against the thumb piece, sliding the actuator and the slide to the left and causing the feeding finger to feed the end label of the strip over the exposed sponge I8 to wet it, and so that it will project beyond the apparatus as shown in Figure 8. The spring 48 is stronger than the spring 44, so that at this time the actuator and slide move as a unit against the tension of the spring 44. With the parts in this position, the pins 42 have reached the forward ends of the slots 4I to limit further movement of the slide 43, and the presser 52 lies over the label and may be moved against the tag to press it against a receiving body 6I which may be any desired article of merchandise. During this operation, pressure on the thumb piece 53 causes it to move downwardly through the slot part 51 to engage the gripper 58 with the label strip so as to prevent further movement thereof. After the label projecting from the end of the apparatus has been pressed against the receiving surface 6 I, as shown in Figure 9, a further pressure on the thumb may be exerted to force the guide pin 54' into the slot part 56 against the tension of the spring 48. This will effect a withdrawal of the body portion from the receiving surface, the end label being held firmly on the receiving surface at this time by the presser 52. Thus, the end label'will be severed or torn from the remainder of the strip and will be left firmly fixed to the receiving surface.

After the label has been secured to the receiving surface; pressure on the thumb piece 53 is relieved and the spring 48 acts to move the actuator mechanism back to its initial position on the slide and to move the pin 54 to the right in the slot 56. Thereafter, the pin 54 will spring up in the slot 51 and the slide and actuator will be moved to the right by spring 44 to their initial position. Movement of the label strip to the right at this time is prevented by the gripping effect of the spring plate 26 which presses the labels against the guide surface I 9 and holds them frictionally againstmove nt.

It will be apparent that t e fastening operation is effected by substantially continuous motion in one direction, and that with very little practice an operator may become highly proficient in using the apparatus to secure gummed labels to merchandise. It is apparent that the apparatus might also b'e utilized -for other similar purposes, as for example, affixing postage stamps, decorative stamps, or the like to any desired articles.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described` in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be taken as a definition of the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purthe channel, wetting means adjacent the end of the channel to wet the end label on the strip during feeding, gripping means carried by the member to hold the strip against further feeding movement after a predetermined movement thereof, and means carried by the member to press the end label against a receiving surface and then movable relative to the channel to tear the end label from the strip.

2. Label handling apparatus comprising a body formed with an elongated channel to receive and guide a strip of labels, a member slidable on the body, feeding means carried by the member and engageable with the strip of labels to feed it along the channel, gripping means carried by the member to hold the strip f labels against further feeding movement after a predetermined movement thereof by' the feeding means, a presser movably carried by the member to press a label against a receiving surface andto tear it from the strip of labels held by the gripping means and guide means for the presser and gripping means to hold the gripping means out of engagement with the labels until after a predetermined feeding movement of the member and then to Vguide the presser for further movement to tear the end label from the strip.

3. Label handling apparatus comprising a body formed with an elongated plane guiding surface for a strip of labels, a slide mounted for straight line movement parallel to the surface, feeding means carried by the slide and engageable with the strip of labels to feed it along the surface, a gripper movably carried by the slide and adapted to be moved into engagement with the strip of labels to hold it against movement on the guiding surface, an actuating member connected to the slide to move it, means forming a cam guide for the actuating member so that it will move into a position to operate the gripper after-a predetermined label feeding `movement of the slide, and a presser carried by the actuating member to press a label projecting from the guiding surface against a receiving surface, the cam guide having an extension to provide for further movement of the actuating member and presser after operating the gripper to tear the projecting label from the strip.

4. Label handling apparatus comprising an elongated hollow body, a sponge receptacle supported in the body having a transverse opening adjacent one end through which a portion of sponge is adapted to project, the upper surface of the receptacle forming a supporting and guiding surface for a strip of gummed labels, a plate overlying the upper receptacle surface and the labels thereon, a slide reciprocable above the plate, feeding means carried by the slide and projecting through an opening in the plate to engage the labels and feed them along the receptacle surface, and a gripper carried by the slide and adapted to engage the labels through a second opening in the plate to hold the labels against movement when the gripper is actuated.

5. Label handling apparatus comprising an elongated flat plate forming a guide for a strip of labels, sides extending along the opposite edges of the plate and projecting above it, a slide carried by the sides for reciprocation in a plane substantially parallel to the plate, feeding means carried by the slide and engageable with the labels to feed them along the plate, an actuating member connected to the slide to move it, the sides being formed with guide slots receiving a guide portion on the actuating member and formed with offset portions substantially parallel to the plate and connected by a'portion at right angles to the plate, so that the actuating member moves rst parallel to the plate, then toward the plate, and then parallel to the plate, and means operated by the actuating member when it is moved toward the plate to grip the labels on the plate to prevent further movement thereof.

6. Label handling apparatus comprising an elongated flat plate forming a guide for a strip of labels, sides extendingA along the opposite edges of the plate and projecting above it, a slide carried by the sides for reciprocation in a plane substantially parallel to the plate, feeding means carried by the slide and engageable with the labels to feed them along the plate, an actuating member connected to the slide to move it, the sides being formed with guide slots receiving a guide portion on the actuating member and formed with oifset portions substantially parallel to the plate and connected by a portion at right angles to the plate, so that the actuating member moves first parallel to the plate, then toward the plate, and then parallel to the plate, means operated by the actuating member when it is moved toward the plate to grip the tags on the plate to prevent further movement thereof, and a presser carried by the actuating member to press the end label against a receiving surface and to tear the end label from the strip during the last motion of the actuating member parallel to the plate.

'1. Label handling apparatus comprising a hollow body to receive a roll of gummed labels and having an elongated projection at one side thereof, a sponge receptacle in the projection to wet labels moved over it, a part hinged to the body to overlie the projection, a slide reciprocable on A the part, feeding means carried by the slide and engageable with the labels to feed them over the sponge receptacle, actuating means connectedto the slide and movable relative thereto, and a gripper operable by the actuating means to hold the labels against further movement at the end of a feeding operation.

8. Label handling apparatus comprising a hollow body to receive a roll of gummed labels and having an elongated projection at one side thereof, a sponge receptacle in the projection to wet,

labels moved over it, a part hinged to the body to overlie the projection, a slide reciprocable on the part. feeding means carried by the slide and engageable with the labels to feed them over the sponge receptacle, actuating means connected to the slide and movable relative thereto, a gripper operable by the actuating means to hold the labels against further movement at the end of a feeding operation, and a presser carried by the actuating means to press the end label on the strip against a receiving surface, the actuating means and presser being movable relative to the slide and gripper after operation of the gripper to tear the end label from the strip.

SIDNEY E. VAN TUYL. 

